Suspension with minimized second torsion gain

• US 6,856,487 B1
• Filed: 07/15/2002
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Magnecomp Corporation (TDK Corporation)
• Inventors: Mei, Shijin, Summers, Robert, Coon, Warren
• Primary Examiner(s): KLIMOWICZ, WILLIAM JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US10/195,661
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 360/244.8, 360/244.9, 360/245, 360/245.1
• US Class Current: 360/244.8
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4826 Mounting, aligning or attachment of the transducer head relative to the arm assembly, e.g. slider holding members, gimbals, adhesive G11B5/484 takes precedence; details of head housings or structures G11B5/10, G11B5/127; adjustment relative to the record carrier G11B5/56
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4833 Structure of the arm assembly, e.g. load beams, flexures, parts of the arm adapted for controlling vertical force on the head G11B5/484 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/6005 Specially adapted for spacing from a rotating disc using a fluid cushion

Abstract

A disk drive suspension having a minimized 2^nd torsion characteristic includes a load beam having a given side profile and centerline rotation axis. The load beam has a base portion, a spring portion, and a beam portion. The beam portion has a distal section supporting a flexure having a tongue. There is a dimple between the tongue and the load beam, and a slider carried on the tongue for gimballing movement about the dimple. The dimple has a given height that displaces said beam portion so that the beam portion side profile is biased from said centerline rotation axis. A bend is placed in the beam portion distal section of a size and location to offset the displacement of the beam portion by the dimple while maintaining the beam portion before said distal section straight. Thus, the beam portion side profile registers with the centerline rotation axis and its 2^nd torsion characteristic is minimized.

Claims

1. A disk drive suspension having a minimized 2^nd torsion characteristic, said suspension comprising a load beam having a given side profile and centerline rotation axis and comprising a base portion, a spring portion, and a beam portion, said beam portion having a distal section supporting a flexure having a tongue, a dimple between said tongue and said load beam, and a slider carried on said tongue for gimballing movement about said dimple, said dimple having a given height that displaces said beam portion so that the beam portion side profile is biased from said centerline rotation axis, said beam portion distal section having a bend of a size and location to offset the displacement of said beam portion by said dimple while maintaining said beam portion straight before said distal section, whereby said beam portion side profile registers with its said centerline rotation axis and its 2^nd torsion characteristic is minimized.

2. A method for minimizing 2^nd torsion characteristic in a disk drive suspension, said suspension comprising a load beam having a given side profile and centerline rotation axis and comprising a base portion, a spring portion, and a beam portion, including providing said beam portion with a distal section, supporting a flexure having a tongue on said distal section, providing a dimple between said tongue and said load beam, providing a slider carried on said tongue for gimballing movement about said dimple, giving said dimple a height that displaces said beam portion so that the beam portion side profile is biased from said centerline rotation axis, and providing in said beam portion distal section a bend of a size and location to offset the displacement of said beam portion by said dimple while maintaining said beam portion straight before said distal section to register said beam portion side profile with its said centerline rotation axis and thereby minimize its 2^nd torsion characteristic.